Santa Ana Police Chief Carlos Rojas, left, is congratulated by Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido after being sworn in during a city council meeting in May, 2014. (Paul Rodriguez, Staff File)

Santa Ana Police Chief Carlos Rojas talks about the rash of shootings in Santa Ana, 54 so far this year, including two officer-involved shootings in the last two days.

Santa Ana Police Chief Carlos Rojas has announced his resignation, saying he has agreed to take a job with another undisclosed agency.

In a letter dated Wednesday to Acting City Manager City Manager Gerardo Mouet and obtained by the Register, Rojas noted he had served the city for more than 27 years and called for appointment of an acting police chief to “allow for a seamless transition as I separate from the department.”

The action comes amid recent criticism by some City Hall elected officials over a rise in shootings and an ongoing discussion by a sharply divided City Council of the department’s performance and leadership. The November city election, which focused in large part on crime and trends in shooting, reduced Rojas’ support on the council.

The Santa Ana Police Officers’ Association announced Thursday it was moving forward with a vote of no confidence on Rojas. The police union agreed to proceed with the vote last week, the group’s president, Gerry Serrano, wrote in an email to city officials.

Newly elected Councilman Jose Solorio, who had police union backing in the November election, said in an email to Register Thursday that “maybe the POA won’t need to do a vote of no confidence.”

Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertanga had said early Thursday morning that Rojas “is not currently discussing his employment status.”

The police union email to city officials, provided to the Register, states that the union tabled plans for a no confidence vote more than a year ago, “in fairness, to allow Chief Rojas to address the issues.”

“A year has elapsed and gang shootings are up to historic numbers, mismanagement of resources and the morale at the police department has worsened to near unrecoverable levels,” Serrano wrote. “There has been no change in all of the areas of concern, and as new issues arise, the association has decided it is now time to move forward.”